Quotes of the day

posted at 10:44 pm on February 10, 2012 by Allahpundit

“It was no secret inside the West Wing that Bill Daley, a Catholic with deep connections to the church hierarchy, vehemently opposed the administration’s proposal to require church-run hospitals and universities to give their employees free contraception.

“But it was the way he pushed his case that aggravated some women on President Barack Obama’s senior staff, according to current and former administration officials. In early November, without consulting them, Daley set up a four-man Oval Office meeting for himself, Obama, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Vice President Joe Biden, who both shared the view that the policy would sink the president with Catholic voters.

“The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued the following statement:…

“These changes require careful moral analysis, and moreover, appear subject to some measure of change. But we note at the outset that the lack of clear protection for key stakeholders—for self-insured religious employers; for religious and secular for-profit employers; for secular non-profit employers; for religious insurers; and for individuals—is unacceptable and must be corrected. And in the case where the employee and insurer agree to add the objectionable coverage, that coverage is still provided as a part of the objecting employer’s plan, financed in the same way as the rest of the coverage offered by the objecting employer. This, too, raises serious moral concerns.

“We just received information about this proposal for the first time this morning; we were not consulted in advance. Some information we have is in writing and some is oral. We will, of course, continue to press for the greatest conscience protection we can secure from the Executive Branch. But stepping away from the particulars, we note that today’s proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. In a nation dedicated to religious liberty as its first and founding principle, we should not be limited to negotiating within these parameters. The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services.

“We will therefore continue—with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency—our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government.”

“‘This ObamaCare rule still tramples on Americans’ First Amendment right to freedom of religion. It’s a fig leaf, not a compromise. Whether they are affiliated with a church or not, employers will still be forced to pay an insurance company for coverage that includes abortion-inducing drugs.’…

“Amy Ridenour, chairman of the National Center for Public Policy Research, agrees:

“‘Isn’t the compromise just a big spin and an insult to churches, because it implies that they just want an ‘out’ to permit them to pretend that they aren’t providing coverage they believe is immoral?’”

“Donohue said the new Obama stance contains a ‘devious element,’ in that it seeks to divide what he calls “a rather loosely formed and tenuous coalition of liberal Catholics joining with conservative Catholics on this issue in opposing Obamacare. This is designed to peel off the liberal opposition in the Catholic community, bring them back into the fold,’ he said…

“Said Donohue: ‘We’re not going to forget this in November.’”

***

“This is, of course, a dodge — a quite clever and positive one. Everyone gets to say that the religious institutions aren’t ‘paying for’ contraception. But if covering contraception ends up costing them money, you can be sure those costs will be passed along, as costs always are, to customers.

“The beauty of this dodge is that it is entirely possible, even likely, that adding the coverage will not raise rates. Easier, cheaper access to contraception means fewer pregnancies. Pregnancies — and the resulting babies — cost insurers far more than birth control pills. For example, according to the Guttmacher Institute, the federal government reported no increase in costs after Congress required coverage of contraceptives for federal employees in 1998. Think of it as immaculate contraceptive coverage.”

***

“The direct costs of providing contraception as part of a health insurance plan are very low and do not add more than approximately 0.5% to the premium costs per adult enrollee. Studies from three actuarial firms, Buck Consultants, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and the Actuarial Research Corporation (ARC) have estimated the direct costs of providing contraception coverage..

“However, as indicated by the empirical evidence described above, these direct estimated costs overstate the total premium cost of providing contraceptive coverage. When medical costs associated with unintended pregnancies are taken into account, including costs of prenatal care, pregnancy complications, and deliveries, the net effect on premiums is close to zero. One study author concluded, ‘The message is simple: regardless of payment mechanism or contraceptive method, contraception saves money.’

“When indirect costs such as time away from work and productivity loss are considered, they further reduce the total cost to an employer.”

***

“‘The boundaries of religious freedom and identity are being trespassed,’ said Hunter, who still writes weekly devotions for Obama and visited the Oval Office last week; he said he keeps his spiritual guidance separate from any policy recommendations he funnels to the president. ‘I do think this will have political repercussions in the religious community,’ Hunter added. ‘This has the potential to be a breaking point.’…

“The relationship of religion and politics could influence the outcome of the 2012 election in battleground states with large Catholic communities, including Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Green added. ‘The real problem for the Obama administration would be if the [birth-control] issue moved some of those less religious Catholics,’ Green said. “The issue might also move the regular Mass-attending Catholics to vote even more Republican.’…

“[I]f the GOP succeeds in wrapping the issue in the mantle of religious liberty, Obama will struggle to rebuild the diverse coalition that put him in the White House.”

***

***

“‘And it’s not just about the women,’ Pelosi said. ‘It’s about their children and the health of their families as they make serious decisions and use contraception to determine, as I said, the size and timing of their families. That will be a debate that we welcome.’

“‘It’s a sad one,’ she concluded. ‘We shouldn’t have to be to a place where people are saying—when the overwhelming practice is going in favor of women’s health—‘we want to pull that back.’ And use the excuse of religious freedom, which, of course, this is not.’”

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Well after all, Barack Obama, he’s an ordinary fascist man
Who desires nothing more than an ordinary chance
To make all people live exactly as he wishes, and do precisely what he wants…
An average fascist man is he, of no especially clever whim
Who wants to control everyone’s life, free of unrest and strife
With everyone supinely doing whatever he thinks is best … … for him
Well… just an ordinary fascist man is he …
BUT!
Let some real Americans speak out against his destructive schemes and his serenity will be through
They’ll protest his grand controlling plans, from the cellar to the dome
And then go on to the enthralling fun from now to November of piece by piece eviscerating him…

You make a very good point..I just have to hope that we have more Americans that will see thru Obie and his Alinsky tatics than that believe in them..It is somewhat sad that I have to use the word hope instead of the word know..:)

We know the gutter and we know the stink of the street
For not much longer will we press through your festering heat
You tyrant who tower above us
You who give us the smack of your rod
Soon now we will give you the gutter
We will give you the judgment of God!

The world may be ugly, but each man must do what he must
You overreaching tyrant, in a year you will be dust
Soon now our Lady of Justice will possess you
In her breathtaking, hair-raising bed
She will tingle your spine as she captures your heart and your head!

predator, one more and I’m out. Only got a few hours of sleep all week. Hope this isn’t a buzzkill for ya. I told you I like a lot of stuff. This one has always struck me.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ofaoLKPz7c

You make a very good point..I just have to hope that we have more Americans that will see thru Obie and his Alinsky tatics than that believe in them..It is somewhat sad that I have to use the word hope instead of the word know..:)

Dire Straits on February 11, 2012 at 1:30 AM

They’ve been getting them dependent on government giveaways little by little, so now everyone is afraid to have his freebies endangered. I’m sick of respecting Muslims, Communists, assorted minority activists, women’s reproductive right and the whole shebang. To hell with them all! They are out of control trying to dance on the grave of this country before it’s even dead.

I’m thinking she is the White House political officer in the same vein as the old Soviet political officers. She is there to make sure that everyone in the White House, including Bammie stay on the straight and narrow vis a vis the communist manifesto. Guessing also that she reports directly and only to the Emporor Palpatine Soros himself. Thus, she was chosen early to serve as a control on Bammie through those two traits you highlight.

Yeah, she was probably very pissed that someone was feeding alternate ideas into the head of her charge.

/yes, I really think they are that diabolical, evil and resort to such mind controlling techniques.

predator, I hold season Opera tickets and have well over a hundred Mozart virgin quality vinyls. I have two or three hundred other classical albums. While at the same time I love this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4s0nzsU1Wg Like I said you’d be hard pressed. I’ll swap some more with you later to demonstrate how wide a variety I like.

here’s the progressive mind at work…and why subordinating religious beliefs is really important

In addition, there are significant cost savings to employers from the coverage of
contraceptives. A 2000 study estimated that it would cost employers 15 to17 percent more not to
provide contraceptive coverage in employee health plans than to provide such coverage, after
accounting for both the direct medical costs of pregnancy and the indirect costs such as
employee absence and reduced productivity.8 I

Researchers have shown that access to contraception improves the social
and economic status of women.12 Contraceptive coverage, by reducing the number of
unintended and potentially unhealthy pregnancies, furthers the goal of eliminating this disparity
by allowing women to achieve equal status as healthy and productive members of the job force.

and besides, insurance companies can well afford to give contraceptives to women for free because they save tons of money by having non-pregnant women in the risk pool…just like in Hawaii

And, no it is not an infringement on the First Amendment because it is not targeted at religious people…it is neutral, and serves a compelling social good

“A Country Boy Can Survive.” I know it well. And it rings true. If come the disaster that O! will bring, I can do all I need to do to survive. Love that song. It’s kind of an anthem for me in these times.

Liberals are out of control. Until regular people are empowered to call Hussein and his minions and any liberal scum in public we can’t get rid of the disease. To defeat an enemy you have to be unafraid to name him.

Liberals are out of control. Until regular people are empowered to call Hussein and his minions and any liberal scum in public we can’t get rid of the disease. To defeat an enemy you have to be unafraid to name him.

Just to be clear that even the government’s best case fails: the concept that adding contraceptive coverage is a “no net cost” to insurers when the costs of care for “unintended pregnancies” is considered is just foolish. It may or may not be a financial wash to the insurers, but fewer future Americans is a dramatic net loss to the domestic economy.

It is entirely irrational for a government which can already only pay 60% of its bills to promote a policy reducing the net number of future taxpayers.

Obama successfully distracted American taxpayers from noticing his deal washing the banking industry clear of any responsibility for fraud. Too easy, kicking the socon anthill to preoccupy the masses as more harm is done to our economy and the US Dollar. Whenever Obama inserts foot in mouth, stop to investigate what his “mis-step” directs public attention away from noticing.

#1 ISSUE 2012?

The Economy.

The “other” #1 issue 2012?

Government over-reach of authority, aka authoritarianism, domestic and international. “Mandate” contrary to constitutional principles is unacceptable.

2008 Fred Thompson left “fire in the hole” Mitt Romney exposed in debate over the abusive MANDATE issue. 2012, Liberty and Justice for All being equal under the law. So in the battle to protect the innocent lives, don’t fall for the bait rather than fighting the pervasive federal mandate syndrome that’s eroding our Constitutional Governance and dissolving the Civil Liberties of American Citizens.

Though this eugenics brouhaha shell game shuffles the insurance policy mandated coverage, the policy holder pays the cost either way. There is no such thing as “free” contraception or lunch.

maverick muse on February 11, 2012 at 6:57 AM

Why should anyone have to pay for a woman’s sexual practices???? Why should anyone have to pay for some woman’s murder of her baby through abortion? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? If a woman gets pregnant, that is no one else’s responsibility except hers and her partner’s. Not mine, not yours, not ours.
By the way, who knew Obama had anyone writing weekly devotions? I bet that O never reads or ponders them.

Funding private organizations or private industry with public tax funds is socialist. The federal abuse of power to mandate or require that every (or any) US Citizen purchase a product is not a constitutional function of government.

Consider well and reflect on our history. America’s exceptional and novel Constitutional Government was created by the Elitists who realized that the working individual American has God given rights, aka natural rights, aka “human rights” which no government has the right to abuse. Our Founding Fathers were Classical Liberals, having effectively (to their ability) amalgamated the foundational structure of well balanced Classical logic with the revolutionary (in its day, late 18th Century) ideals of Liberty. Our Founders had high hopes that American posterity would evolve into better people.

Subsequent to the War Between the States, our American killing fields, the victors determined that the federal government does not exist to serve the states. Rather, states serve the empirical federal government, while citizens are obligated to do as they are told and pay taxes. This late 19th Century generation of Yankee Elitist disdained the very matter of Liberty for All, allowing only themselves absolute liberty to abuse others, crowning themselves as the only people that matter, being the best educated and holding the masses of wealth and power. Since Woodrow Wilson’s monstrous administration, the US Constitution has been under attack. Authoritarians preferring a feudal society (lords and serfs) discredit our Constitution as being completely irrelevant because it is so “archaic” and a hindrance to oligarchy. Truth be told, authoritarian feudalism is archaic; not the relatively modern concept that humans have innate rights which no government can legitimately deny.

The final twist today? The advancement of socialist authoritarian power advancing the cause of never-ending “humanitarian” wars or mandates that effectively exterminate our finest youth, ruin those who remain and extinguish whatever hope transforms to disillusionment.

That Liberty remains alive in our hearts and minds is a truth. The integrity of our Constitutional Government is the 2012 issue.

I thought Congress Critter Gwen Moore frpm Wisconsin would have made the roundup. “The National Institute of Health has said that it is a danger to women’s health and safety of their families that for 30 years to be exposed to the prospects of pregnancy.”

Huckabee facetiously thanked Obama for stirring the issue. “You have done more than any person in the entire GOP field, any candidate, has done to bring this party to unity and energize this party as a result of your attack on religious liberty,” he said Friday morning.

“Thanks to President Obama, we are all Catholics now,” he said to cheers at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services.

No, bishops, it is not. The only complete solution is to have Congress pass a bill to repeal Obamacare in its entirety, and to have the next president sign that bill into law.

You bishops were all so willing to get behind a law that trampled on the Constitution, so long as Barry promised that he’d tread lightly when it came to your own special interests. Well guess what, bishops? The crocodile may promise to eat you last, but in the end, you’re still dinner.

Pregnancies — and the resulting babies — cost insurers far more than birth control pills. For example, according to the Guttmacher Institute, the federal government reported no increase in costs after Congress required coverage of contraceptives for federal employees in 1998. Think of it as immaculate contraceptive coverage.”

Ya know …
I usually refrain from religious debates and have never worn my beliefs on my sleeve, but I won’t click on the link in the quote.
The “bold” EmPhaSis is mine, but the phrase is downright blasphemous as far as this Big Mick is concerned.

I think I already posted about how Bill Donohue (thanks for correcting your spelling. /sarc) of the Catholic League is one of the last people in this country you want to píss off.
Get ‘em, Bill! Et alia of course.

So, they would rather provide contraception and offset the cost by not having to pay for pregnancy!? Who thinks of bringing a new life into the world that way? See, no problem for the insurance companies to provide the pill. Our dear leader feels no discomfort, this is his plan all along. I hope Donahue can convince Dolan that this is not a good first step.

As always, we will allow the MFM and the donkeyrats to frame the debate. This is not a cost thingy. It’s a religious freedom, constitutional issue. If the catholic church chooses not to cover contraception than that’s their business. If said decision costs people choosing to work under said parameters and it costs them a few extra shekels, so be it. If they don’t like it, the free market will dictate that they will be able to go work, say, at the secular hospital down the street and get their condoms paid for. The constitution necessitates that the federal government let the catholic church operate in peace according to their own beliefs. If people don’t like it, then no one will work there and they will go out of business. Going to church this evening and I pray that our Monsignor will cover this topic in his homily. Love watching the conflicted Catholics squirm in their pews.

Oh yeah, so now under The One’s dictates, we will one pay for contraception. If said contraception fails and we have an unwanted pregnancy, we will also pay for the abortion. If the child is born and goes on to become a mass murderer, we won’t under any condition consider capital punishment because that would be, you know, inhumane. Got it. Thanks.

“I accepted an invitation to talk to the women’s branch of the Ku Klux Klan…I saw through the door dim figures parading with banners and illuminated crosses…I was escorted to the platform, was introduced, and began to speak…In the end, through simple illustrations I believed I had accomplished my purpose. A dozen invitations to speak to similar groups were proffered.” (Margaret Sanger: An Autobiography, P.366)

It was only a matter of time before Obama, the most incompetent, unqualified and corrupt lifeform to be elected president, to expose his illeracy to even the most illiterate of the American public. First he allows China to secure a deal with Canada on the pipeline. That was complete insanity. Now infringing on the religious freedoms of 10s of millions Catholics takes the illiteracy to another level. Scarey what will happen next. If this nation is so ignorant to re-elect Obama, then we will deserve losing everything this nation stands for.

In the short term. Another way to look at it is if the babies grow up and become employed, they will pay back the cost of their birth and much more from the future taxes they will pay, assuming a federal health plan.

If I was into conspiracies I would have to wonder if Barack Obama wasn’t a real life “Dave.”
Between the teleprompter, the “late night decisions all by himself,” and these moments of being unprepared, you really have to wonder if Axelrod and Jarrett haven’t stuffed a stick up his butt and made him their slavepuppet.